How can low-code platforms foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement in BPA teams?

The best example of this that I heard from one of our Precisely Automate customers was there was a staff meeting of data subject matter experts and the manager was talking about a new use case that would require automation and before the meeting was up, one of their team members had already used our record, map, run approach to create the automation script that was needed by their manager. This showcased how low-code platforms given the data subject matter experts can provide business agility to match the change of direction and velocity that a business needs to move in.

There was a low-code BPA Platform which enables users to modify & even change the natural language for users: - BizAg is a good BPA based on my customers experiences which enabled the programmers to modify the platform.

Sometimes called 'Citizen Development'. Empowerment goes beyond simply handing over a tool like a low-code platform. True empowerment comes when you establish a governance framework around the tool(s). Why? Because a tool is only as effective as its user is proficient. How? Start with training. Introduce users to the platform's potential but train them on its limitations, and alternatives. Create a roadmap that grows with their skill levels. Set up best practices. Make it easy for users to find guidelines, templates, or simple Do’s and Don’ts. This is critical for maintaining data integrity and ensuring everyone uses the tool effectively. Lastly, oversight is key. Set up a committee, a dedicated CoE team, and use a SaaS like SilkFlo.

Low-code platforms are basically like giving your team Legos to build their own automation tools. This means they can solve problems and create solutions themselves, without needing IT every time. It makes them feel more invested and excited about their work, seeing the direct impact of what they build. Plus, these platforms come with built-in tutorials and guides, so your team can keep learning and adding new skills to their toolbox.

Low-code platforms can turn your BPA team into a learning machine. Anyone can join the automation party due to the easy-to-use nature of these tools. This widens participation and encourages trying new ideas. Rapid prototyping and built-in analytics let teams see results fast and make adjustments on the fly. The focus on business goals keeps everyone centered on practical improvements, not just technical details. This fosters a culture of continuous learning and innovation in your BPA team.

Low-code platforms empower users by allowing them to create solutions without needing extensive coding skills. When we introduced a low-code tool in our team, it encouraged everyone to experiment and share ideas. This led to a culture of continuous learning, where team members felt confident trying new things. The more they created, the more they improved our processes. Empowering users fosters innovation and keeps everyone engaged in improvement.

I have witness how low code platforms enable experimentation in: 1. Sales. Low code CRMs today make it easy to create experimental pipeline as well as segments. 2. Marketing. Low code marketing automation apps give power to A/B test campaigns. 3. Operations. Low code project management software with easy to setup AI tools allows many curious operations managers to save time on document processing. These are 3 areas where curiosity and motivation finally have tools that can provide results fast and demonstrate impact.

We see this in that businesses always have new emerging use cases whose amount of data and/or frequency of making data updates is too low to yet warrant a significant IT investment for mass automation. However but empowering the data subject matter experts with no code tools and automation platforms to quickly develop automation solutions, it enables the business to both iterate and flesh out all their automation requirements which may include other teams and regulatory requirements such as auditability in the final end state solution.

From experience, experimentation is key. Yet, while these platforms allow quick prototyping, the culture of an organization plays a huge role in whether experimentation truly thrives. In an organization open to innovation, a low-code platform becomes a sandbox where amazing ideas can take form. However, the freedom to experiment should come with a "safety net." Encourage the use of "experimentation labs" or dedicated environments separate from the main system. This way, users can tinker without risking system-wide errors. Also, metrics are your best friend. Teach users how to track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of their projects. This helps in making data-driven decisions and fine-tunes the experimental process.

Low-code platforms are game-changers for fostering a learning and improvement culture within your BPA team. These platforms let you try out new ideas and workflows quickly, without messing with the main system or worrying about breaking things. You can build prototypes, test them out, and see the results right away. This lets you experiment with different approaches and compare them to find the best fit. It's like having a built-in "what if" machine, sparking curiosity and creativity within your team.

All low-code platforms provide tools for feedback. If feedback is monitored, analysed and is part of innovation cycle in the team it can provide a strong boost for faster improvements. Analysis of usage and behaviour in the solutions is critical for risk management as well as analysing ROI.

Low-code platforms make it easy for everyone to share their automation ideas and get feedback from others. This two-way street helps you understand what works well and what needs tweaking. Plus, you can monitor how people actually use your automations and see if there's room for improvement. This open communication loop keeps everyone on the same page and ensures your automations stay effective – pretty cool way to build a culture of continuous learning, right?

Having a Center of Excellence (CoE) team makes a real difference. They ensure that your use of low-code platforms aligns with your business goals, offers best practices, governance, and serves as a bridge between tech opportunities and business needs. On top of that, having a separate strategy tool adds another layer of effectiveness. This tool acts like your digital roadmap, helping you with everything from idea generation to prioritizing opportunities and managing the pipeline. A dedicated tool as part of your strategy layer brings much-needed visibility and collaboration. Team members can discover opportunities, track project statuses, and provide access to vetted internal solutions.

Scalability drives the widespread adoption of low-code platforms. To ensure scalability's success, a "Process Ambassador" is key. This team member champions ongoing enhancements in low-code platform adoption. Scalability often coincides with team growth. A mature low-code platform serves as a potent automation tool for accommodating new hires seamlessly. A dedicated platform steward maximizes ROI by aligning its use with business goals. In summary, a Process Ambassador and a mature low-code platform are pivotal for achieving scalability and reaping the full benefits of automation. This approach guarantees scalability is a top priority, leading to an optimized operation delivering the highest ROI.

I think what is implied is that you can have both scalability and business agility by providing low-code/no-code platforms to business end users and that since the business end users both understand their data and business processes themselves, you eliminate the need to translate those into requirements for a separate IT team to implement. Thus keeping the automation tools and processes close to the groups who will use them will enable those teams to innovate and be agile at the same time as they are maturing solutions that will require the involvement of other stakeholders.

As a team or business function grows their automation via no code platforms, they will likely reach a tipping point where they should also consider making an organizational change of having a center of excellence for automation that either is deeply rooted in their business function or is intended to target cross functional use cases that can support the company's digital transformation journey.

Encourage your team to share success stories and challenges using the platform. Maybe even have a "low-code champion" who can answer questions and help others learn.